Albuquerque Public Schools' budget woes have put one proposal to change school start times on the shelf.APS was investigating the possibility of starting elementary schools earlier -- between 7:30 and 8 a.m., and middle and high schools later, between 8:35 and 9:15 a.m.But when the state legislature announced it will reduce the district's budget by $43 million this coming school year, administrators said plans to change school start times were scrapped."It allows us to concentrate on the budget cuts, which is our first priority right now, above all," said Raquel Reedy, APS associate superintendent.APS administrators said two public forums that were scheduled for next week to discuss the issue have been cancelled. Other school districts such as Rio Rancho are also looking at early start times.Officials said they will use this time to do more research. Already one study showed that early start times are beneficial."Those schools that started earlier show a significant growth over their statistical peers in reading and math," said Reedy. "It also gives us a year to continue studying further, talking to schools, talking to principals, communities."APS officials said the district will keep fine tuning its plan, and that talk of changing start times won't go away altogether."It also gives us a year to continue studying further, talking to schools, talking to principals, communities."Officials said the issue will most likely come up again this time next year.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —

Albuquerque Public Schools' budget woes have put one proposal to change school start times on the shelf.

APS was investigating the possibility of starting elementary schools earlier -- between 7:30 and 8 a.m., and middle and high schools later, between 8:35 and 9:15 a.m.

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But when the state legislature announced it will reduce the district's budget by $43 million this coming school year, administrators said plans to change school start times were scrapped.

"It allows us to concentrate on the budget cuts, which is our first priority right now, above all," said Raquel Reedy, APS associate superintendent.

APS administrators said two public forums that were scheduled for next week to discuss the issue have been cancelled. Other school districts such as Rio Rancho are also looking at early start times.

Officials said they will use this time to do more research. Already one study showed that early start times are beneficial.

"Those schools that started earlier show a significant growth over their statistical peers in reading and math," said Reedy. "It also gives us a year to continue studying further, talking to schools, talking to principals, communities."

APS officials said the district will keep fine tuning its plan, and that talk of changing start times won't go away altogether.

"It also gives us a year to continue studying further, talking to schools, talking to principals, communities."

Officials said the issue will most likely come up again this time next year.